处罚 chǔfá to penalize
to penalize; to punish
How to remember 处罚: 处 place + 罚 penalty = to penalize.
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How it is used
- To penalize or impose a punishment, often official: 处罚违规行为 (chǔfá wéiguī xíngwéi) to penalize violations; note verb reading is chǔ (third tone).
- Compare 惩罚 (chéngfá), which stresses disciplining wrongdoing morally, and 处分 (chǔfèn), an internal disciplinary sanction; 处罚 leans administrative/legal (fines, points).
- Common with traffic, sports fouls, and rule enforcement.